Utilization of Telemedicine in Addressing Musculoskeletal Care Gap in Long-term Care Patients

Description

The presentation, led by Olivia Cheng, introduces a study on TeleMSK, a telemedicine initiative aimed at improving musculoskeletal (MSK) care for long-term care patients, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cheng emphasizes the lack of adoption of telemedicine in MSK care despite its benefits, highlighting the common hesitancy among surgeons regarding the capability of remote consultations to provide adequate care without physical examinations.



The study focuses on rural Ontario, particularly North Muskoka, which faces rising healthcare costs due to an aging population. The presenters explain past research on transportation costs for hip fracture patients, revealing that many visits are unnecessary and present hidden costs related to family accompaniment and transportation risks.



Through a cross-sectional study conducted from September 2018 to April 2019 with 26 long-term care facilities, they assessed the effectiveness of TeleMSK, which aimed to reduce unnecessary emergency visits, travel time, and familial costs. The study found high satisfaction rates among patients and family members regarding telemedicine visits compared to in-person consultations, revealing that telemedicine improved accessibility and coordination of care in conjunction with on-site caregivers like physiotherapists.



The limitations of the study included small sample size and characteristics of the patient demographics, making conclusions somewhat unique to that population. The findings suggest that telemedicine could lead to better patient outcomes while reducing costs and risks associated with traditional methods. Plans to expand the TeleMSK initiative in Ontario have been put in motion following successful results.

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